garyordination

Garry’s ordination to the deaconate was part of the festivities at the occasion of the 80^th anniversary of Hiroshima Diocese and the 40^th anniversary of the dedication of Matsue church. Because of some repairs going on at the church, and streets likely to be jammed by a local matsuri, the venue was relocated to the gymnasium hall of Shotoku Jo-gakuin, a Catholic school for girls, which has much parking space. That turned out to be a wise precaution, for in the morning of November 3 it was raining heavily. The good people of San’in, however, do not blink at some downpour! And they would show other qualities of theirs in the course of the day.

Many people had gathered from near and distant places to grace this occasion with their sympathy and prayers. There was joyous expectation in the air. When the Eucharist began at 11 a.m. more than thirty priests solemnly entered, accompanied by Bishop Misue of Hiroshima, and of course Garry himself, who was almost dwarfed by that enormous clerical presence, but seemingly happy and “at home” with his people, Japanese and Filipino alike. Crisscrossing and busybeeing through the hall was Rev. Harada, the pastor of Matsue parish, who wanted this to be an unforgettable day for Garry and for the congregation present at the ceremony.

You don’t hear me say that Bishop Misue, two Japanese priests, Provincial Jos Bastiaensen and director of interns Daniel Kuenji were at the altar. For there was no altar. There was an open space, in the middle of which, after two meaningful Scripture readings, Garry prostrated himself. It struck me that the ordination took place on the very spot where the altar was supposed to be, the sight of which made the litany of all saints all the more impressive. Garry was presented with a stola by a Japanese couple who acted as wit-nesses. Then the altar was built up in order to proceed with the offerings, in memory of our Lord Jesus who comes as the one who serves.

After the liturgy I overheard a confrere saying: “What a grand and heart-warm-ing liturgy that was. You could feel its meaning coming from below, from the people, from the simple accommodations; it did not need to draw its inspiration from the grandeur of, say, a cathedral.” Someone commented that the little kids had been running about too noisily, but who cared? Certainly not Garry who was beaming with delight after he had thanked the Bishop, the people and especially his pastor-supervisor. In between the lines he dropped a hint to the Bishop and the confreres: that he would not be averse to staying some more years with God’s children in Matsue.

Then those children of God took the lead and prepared a big party in the same hall, for in no time they erected many “altars” now laden with dishes of different kinds. The strong Filipino delegation started dancing and everybody clapped hands. Congrats, Garry. During the liturgy, where he served at the altar, and during the party, I kept half an eye on our intern Bambi, and I wondered: “What would he be feeling now?”

(Fr.Wermer Lesage.)